Russian Invasion Of Afghanistan
Department of State Washington File: Byliner: Recent U.S.-Russia Nuclear Pact a "New Kind of Treaty"
In the period from 1985 to 1991, the United States and the Soviet Union took a series of dramatic initiatives to reduce the threat of nuclear war. A major foreign policy objective of the Reagan administration was to negotiate a new kind of treaty, one that would do more than merely limit the growth in the number of strategic weapons in the arsenals of the two superpowers, but rather would actually require a significant reduction. The 1986 Reagan-Gorbachev Summit in Reykjavik marked the beginning of the process that stretched the envelope of what was achievable beyond anything negotiated before, and set the stage for the arms reduction treaties to follow. This process spanned the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations, and the results -- the INF (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces) and START (Strategic Arms Reduction) treaties -- were groundbreaking in many ways. As a result of the 1987 INF Treaty, for the first time an entire class of nuclear weapons (all intermediate- and shor ... [Read More]
2002
Attorney General Ashcroft announced the indictment of three members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) for conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States. Ashcroft said that the indictment marked the convergence of two of the top priorities of the Department of Justice: the prevention of terrorism and the reduction of illegal drug use. ... General Tommy Franks, commander of Operation Enduring Freedom and commander in chief of the U.S. Army's Central Command (CENTCOM), told journalists in Moscow that Russia had provided "a great deal in terms of support, equipment, and humanitarian aid to Afghanistan." Franks specifically praised the work of EmerCom, Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations. He also cited a Russian-operated hospital in Kabul, tunnel-clearing operations north of Kabul, and clearance of "overflight for our necessary flights across Russia" as much appreciated and important contributions to coalition operations. ... [Read More]
"NUCLEAR OFFENSIVE ARMS REDUCTIONS -- PAST AND PRESENT" - U.S. Foreign Policy Agenda, July 2002, Department of State, International Information Programs
In the period from 1985 to 1991, the United States and the Soviet Union took a series of dramatic initiatives to reduce the threat of nuclear war. A major foreign policy objective of the Reagan administration was to negotiate a new kind of treaty, one that would do more than merely limit the growth in the number of strategic weapons in the arsenals of the two superpowers, but rather would actually require a significant reduction. The 1986 Reagan-Gorbachev Summit in Reykjavik marked the beginning of the process that stretched the envelope of what was achievable beyond anything negotiated before, and set the stage for the arms reduction treaties to follow. This process spanned the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations, and the results -- the INF (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces) and START (Strategic Arms Reduction) treaties -- were groundbreaking in many ways. As a result of the 1987 INF Treaty, for the first time an entire class of nuclear weapons (all intermediate- and shor ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Transcript: New U.S. Ambassador Seeks to Accelerate Afghan Reconstruction and Security
On the economic side, it's also a question of capacity for absorption, and Afghanistan it's not only us, there are a lot more countries involved, and it's building on what has been done so far. But you can rest assured that we want an Afghanistan that can stand on its own feet, and that means, both in terms of security, continued commitment to security and the building of the army and the police and other institutions that are needed to deal with the security issue, in cooperation again with the Afghans and others, because others are participating in this, I could name them, such as the French are training officers of this ANA. And the Japanese are playing a very important role in the DDR [Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration] process, demobilization of existing militias. Of course, I mentioned the British on the narcotics issue. The Germans have the lead in training the police, the Italians in terms of the rule of law. ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
The Embassy Mission in Kabul is headed by the Ambassador and the normal Department of State complement of offices and other departments of the Executive Branch. In November 2003, President Bush asked that the Commanding General of the Combined Forces Command relocate his command center from Bagram Air Field to the Embassy to afford close coordination between the diplomatic and military aspects of nation-building and reconstruction, his primary foreign policy goal in Afghanistan. Accordingly, a three-star general and his staff share the executive floor of the Chancery with the Ambassador and the Front Office. ... [Read More]
US and Coalition 2001
September 13, 2001: President Bush proclaimed September 14 to be a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance and announced plans to visit New York that day. He called on Congress to approve a $20 billion supplemental appropriations bill to provide assistance to victims and their families, relief and recovery efforts, investigations, and precautions against further attacks. During a White House daily briefing, Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said that President Bush would seek a resolution from Congress authorizing the use of military force in retaliation for the attacks on New York and Washington. Fleischer said that Bush had called various foreign leaders, including the Prime Ministers of Japan and Italy, the Secretary-General of NATO, and Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. President Bush later said that he had also talked with the Presidents of Russia and China, and Secretary of State Powell added that the President had spoken to Egyptian President Mubarak and King Abdallah II ... [Read More]
Background Notes Archive - Near East and North Africa
U.S. Department of State______________________________________________________ The State Department does not guarantee the authenticity of documents on the Internet. If for legal or other reasons you require the original version of a document in hard copy, please contact the Office of Public Communication, Bureau of Public Affairs. Note that State Department information is not copyrighted unless indicated and can be reproduced without consent. Citation of source is appreciated. Permission to reproduce any copyrighted material (including photos or graphics) must be obtained from the original source.______________________________________________________BACKGROUND NOTES: AFGHANISTANPUBLISHED BY THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRSU.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATEJULY 1994Official Name: Islamic State of AfghanistanPROFILEGeographyArea: 648,000 sq. km. (252,000 sq. mi.); slightly smaller than Texas. Cities (1993 est.): Capital--Kabul (est. 800,000). Other cit ... [Read More]
Afghanistan (04/05)
Afghanistan's relations with Iran have fluctuated over the years, with periodic disputes over the water rights of the Helmand River as the main issue of contention. Following the Soviet invasion, which Iran opposed, relations deteriorated. Iran supported the cause of the Afghan resistance and provided financial and military assistance to rebel leaders who pledged loyalty to the Iranian vision of Islamic revolution. Iran still provides refuge to Afghan ex-patriots. Following the emergence of the Taliban and their harsh treatment of Afghanistan's Shi'a minority, Iran stepped up assistance to the Northern Alliance. Relations with the Taliban deteriorated further in 1998 after Taliban forces seized the Iranian consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif and executed Iranian diplomats. Since the fall of the Taliban, Afghanistan’s relations with Iran have improved. Iran has been active in Afghan reconstruction efforts, particularly in the western portion of the country. ... [Read More]
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